PRAMOD KUMAR PRADHAN Vs. STATE OF ORISSA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The sole appellant in the present appeal has assailed the judgment and order dtd. 19/9/1998 passed by the learned Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge, Khurda, Bhubaneswar in T.R. Case No. 3 of 1998, whereby the appellant has been convicted for offence punishable under Sec. 20 (b) of the NDPS Act and on that count he has been sentenced to undergo R.I. for one year and to pay a fine of Rs.200.00, in default to undergo further R.I. of one month.

(2.) This appeal is pending since 1998. When the matter was taken up for hearing, consistently in many dates of hearing, nobody appeared for the appellant. Therefore, on 16/10/2025, this Court has indicated that if none appeared for the appellant on next date of hearing, Amicus Curiae will be appointed. When the matter was taken up on 11/11/2025, again none appeared for the appellant. Therefore, Mr. Debashis Sarangi, learned counsel, who was present in Court, has been requested to assist the Court in the capacity of Amicus Curiae and he has readily accepted the same and rendered his effective assistance to dispose of the appeal.

(3.) Heard Mr. Debashis Sarangi, learned Amicus Curiae for the appellant and Mr. Raj Bhusan Dash, learned Additional Standing Counsel for the State.